The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) on Tuesday assessed the situation and lifted the restrictions of Stage-IV under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) in Delhi and the neighbouring region, following a decline in pollution levels. However, the restrictions under GRAP Stage I, II and III will continue including curbs on construction and industrial activities remain in place to control pollution levels. The Stage-IV was enforced on December 16 in Delhi and NCR when it breached the 400 mark.

The decision comes after Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI) improved to 369 (‘Very Poor’) at 4 PM on December 24, down from a peak of 401 (‘Severe’) recorded on December 16. The improvement in air quality was attributed to favourable meteorological conditions, including improved wind speed, according to forecasts from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) and the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM). Residents are urged to remain cautious and adhere to guidelines issued by the authorities to mitigate the impact of air pollution on health and daily life.

Under Stage-III, classes up to five are required to shift to hybrid mode. Parents and students have the option to choose online education, wherever available.  Stage III bans on non-essential diesel-operated medium goods vehicles with BS-IV or older standards within Delhi. The restrictions also include on plying of BS-III petrol and BS IV diesel LMVs (4 wheelers) in Delhi and in the districts of Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad and Gautam Budh Nagar. Persons with Disabilities shall be permitted to ply BS-III Petrol / BS-IV Diesel LMVs, provided that these are specifically adopted for them and are run only for their personal use.

The restrictions also include banning of road construction activities and major repairs. The Government may take a decision to stagger timings for public offices and municipal bodies in other areas of NCR.

According to the CAQM,  the Sub-Committee, accordingly, hereby decided to revoke with immediate effect, its orders dated 16.12.2024, for invoking actions under Stage-lV (‘Severe+’ Air Quality) of revised schedule of GRAP (December, 2024). 

The CAQM said in a statement that the air quality index of Delhi is continuously improving since morning and has been recorded as 369 ("Very Poor") on 24.12.2024 at 4 pm, which is about 31 AQI points below the limits as decided and directed by the Supreme Court for invoking Stage-lV (Delhi AQl 400). The AQI further dropped to 364 at 5pm.

"Actions under Stage I, II, and III of the revised GRAP shall remain invoked and be implemented, monitored, and reviewed by all the agencies concerned in the entire NCR to ensure that the AQI levels do not slip further," the commission said in its order. All implementing agencies shall keep strict vigil and especially intensify measures under Stage-I, II & III of the revised GRAP). While GRAP Stage-lV is being revoked, keeping in view the winter season when weather conditions may not be always favorable and in order to ensure that the AQI levels do not slip further, citizens are requested to strictly adhere to the citizen charter under GRAP-lll," it said.

The restrictions under Stage-IV include a ban on all construction activities, entry of non-essential polluting trucks into Delhi, and mandatory shifting of school classes, except for classes 10 and 12, to hybrid mode. The measures were aimed at curbing severe pollution levels and included restrictions on industrial activities, construction, and entry of non-essential trucks into Delhi.

The AQI is likely to remain in the "very poor" category in the coming days due to favourable meteorological conditions and wind speed, according to the air quality and weather forecast provided by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) and Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM).

Adding to the environmental concerns, Delhi experienced a chilly morning with a minimum temperature of 10.8 degrees Celsius recorded at 5.30 a.m. Light rain and a drop in temperature further accentuated the winter chill. Thick fog continued to blanket parts of the city, significantly reducing visibility. While the past week’s nights have already been cold, daytime temperature drops are often felt more intensely by people due as its impact is usually felt when people are outdoors and active.

In the morning, the AQI in all 36 monitoring stations listed under Centre’s Sameer app, which provides hourly data on the National Air Quality Index, was under 450, while some were under 400 as well. At the same time, the air pollution in Delhi was over 37. 3 times the limit prescribed by the World Health Organisation (WHO) in the morning. The overall level of PM2.5 (a chief pollutant) in Delhi was 188 as compared to 372 micrograms per cubic meter on Monday afternoon.

The overall level of Particulate Matter under 10 microns was 262  micrograms per cubic meter. The level of Nitrogen dioxide (NO?) was recorded at 49.2 micrograms per cubic meter, as against the World Health Organization’s (WHO) limit being far stricter at 25µg/m3.